Topic: General

Though Google and its manufacturing partners hoped to get the jump on the Apple Watch with the debut of its own wearable platform last year, it didn't translate into blockbuster sales to consumers, according to a new study.

Apple's landmark solar power deal, announced by CEO Tim Cook this week, is a long-term sustainable energy solution that should generate enough to power essentially all of the company's California operations, including the upcoming "spaceship" Campus 2, by the end of 2016.

Consumers searching for the best way to automatically log their daily activity may need to look no farther than the App Store, as a new study from the University of Pennsylvania shows that data collected by dedicated fitness wearables is generally no more accurate than that from a smartphone kept in a pocket.

Calling it his company's "biggest, boldest and most ambitious project ever," Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook revealed a massive new $850 million investment in a California solar farm -- one that will generate enough electricity to power virtually all of its operations in the Golden State.

Apple's chief executive will reportedly be among those speaking to participants at Friday's White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection, an event designed to bring together representatives from all sides of the cybersecurity and privacy debate.

Dish Network announced on Monday that its new over-the-top web television service, Sling TV, is now open for business and will include content from AMC -- the television home of Breaking Bad and Mad Men -- as well as access to WatchESPN apps for all customers.

Canon this month is gearing up to release its latest wave of DSLR cameras, including a pair of prosumer-focused T6 Rebels and its all-new professional series EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R -- both of which are capable of shooting 50.6-megapixel images and 1080p video.

While Apple and IBM's enterprise partnership is specifically about iOS devices, Apple has also insisted that IBM's salespeople use Mac hardware when making their pitches to customers, ensuring that the company's tightly integrated ecosystem remains in focus.

Apple's Campus 2 mega-project is showing major progress in its "Spaceship" Ring, where interlocking concrete slabs are building a foundation for a steel structure that is already beginning to reach upward by four stories. The first massive parking garage is nearly finished and existing buildings have been demolished to make room for a second stage R&D site.

Even as Apple is reportedly struggling to put together its own long-rumored web television initiative, satellite provider Dish Network has begun to roll out its competing Sling TV over-the-top offering to a select group of early adopters. AppleInsider was given access to the invite-only beta and brings some first impressions of the impressive service.

Glassmaker Corning on Friday unveiled "Project Phire," a glass composite that the company says is just as strong and drop-resistant as its latest Gorilla Glass but nearly as scratch-resistant as sapphire.

This week's all-new AppleInsider podcast is now available to download and subscribe in iTunes or SoundCloud, with detailed analysis of this week's news, including the beta release of Photos for OS X, an inside look at the Apple Watch companion app, and discussion of Apple's mysterious camera-equipped vehicles.

Apple inadvertently made waves earlier this week with the revelation that the company was behind a fleet of camera-equipped minivans found roaming streets throughout the country. Initial rumors suggested that they may be a step towards a self-driving "iCar," but digging done by AppleInsider suggests that the vehicles are not actually early indications of an autonomous Apple automobile.

According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple has made a major push to recruit talent from the electric carmaker, offering massive bonuses and significant salary bumps for those willing to come to work in Cupertino.

Apple's interest in indoor positioning technology could go well beyond just identifying a user's location, by offering estimated wait times at a variety of businesses, allowing iPhone users to adjust their schedules and save time by avoiding high-traffic periods of the day.

Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney will premier his latest project, a feature entitled "Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine" that chronicles the late Apple CEO's influence on the modern world's relationship with computers, at the annual South by Southwest film festival next month.

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC recently released a bizarre music video starring rapper Don G alongside backup dancers dressed as smartphones, dubbed "Hold the Crown," in which the former waxes lyrical about the relative superiority of HTC's handsets and executive team.

Under the leadership of retail chief Angela Ahrendts, Apple is said to be considering major changes to the layout of its retail locations, which may be implemented at some locations in time for the debut of the Apple Watch.